Trump stands by Chief of Staff Wiles after Vanity Fair controversy: 'She’s done a fantastic job'

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, December 16, that he continues to have full confidence in White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles following controversy over remarks attributed to her in a Vanity Fair profile that drew wide attention across the nation.

Speaking to the New York Post, Trump said that he had not read the article but rejected its framing, calling Wiles a key figure in his administration.

"I didn’t read it, but I don’t read Vanity Fair, but she’s done a fantastic job," Trump told the outlet in his first public comments since the profile was published.

Trump dismisses Vanity Fair profile’s characterization

Trump added that what he had heard about the article raised concerns about its accuracy.

"I think from what I hear, the facts were wrong, and it was a very misguided interviewer, purposely misguided," he said.

Asked directly whether he still had full confidence in Wiles, Trump responded that she was "fantastic."

The Vanity Fair article, written by political author Chris Whipple, was based on 11 interviews conducted with Wiles over the past year and offered a detailed look at the first year of Trump’s second term.

In the piece, Wiles made blunt assessments of several administration figures, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, Vice President JD Vance, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

The article also quoted Wiles describing Trump as having "an alcoholic’s personality," a line that quickly became a focal point of the coverage.

Trump explains the 'alcoholic's personality' description

"I’ve said that many times about myself," Trump told the Post. "I’m fortunate I’m not a drinker."

Trump reportedly does not drink alcohol and has spoken publicly in the past about his brother’s struggles with alcoholism.

He elaborated on what he meant by the comparison, suggesting that it referred to intensity rather than substance use.

"If I did, I could very well, because I’ve said that," Trump said. "What’s the word? Not possessive, possessive and addictive type personality. Oh, I’ve said it many times, many times before."

White House emphasizes continuity and focus

Wiles has not retracted her comments but has criticized the Vanity Fair profile’s framing, saying her remarks were presented without full context and gave a misleading impression of dysfunction inside the administration.

In a statement issued earlier Tuesday, Susie Wiles defended Trump’s leadership and said that the White House had already achieved significant progress in its first year.

The administration has not indicated that the controversy will lead to any staffing changes, and Trump’s remarks appeared intended to signal stability within his senior team.

Wiles, who has worked closely with Trump for years, has been credited by allies with maintaining discipline and structure inside the White House during his second term.